Child and Family Therapy

A family of three four, including one child and two adults, walk along a trail in a forested mountain area, carrying backpacks and wearing outdoor clothing.

Helping Children Feel Safe, Connected, and Confident

Children often communicate through behavior long before they can put their feelings into words. My approach focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship so children feel understood, supported, and emotionally secure.

Why Connection Matters

When children experience stress, anxiety, trauma, or behavioral challenges, they often need more than new coping skills—they need relationships that help them feel safe enough to grow.

That's where my work differs.

Rather than focusing only on changing a child's behavior, we work to strengthen the connection between parent and child, because secure relationships create the foundation for emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience. This is why I love offering Theraplay® to families with kids of all ages.

What is Theraplay®?

A woman with curly red hair and glasses is smiling and resting her head on her hand, sitting at a table in a classroom or library. She is wearing a black shirt and colorful accessories, and there is a coloring page with a detailed drawing of a bird or mythical creature in front of her. There are markers on the table, and colorful storage bins and bookshelves are visible in the background.

Theraplay uses practitioner guidance to create playful and caring child-adult interactions that foster joyful shared experiences. These activities build attunement and understanding of each other – replicating early relationship experiences that are proven to lead to secure attachment. The interactions are personal, physical and fun – a natural way for everyone to experience the healing power of being together.

With the support of the Theraplay practitioner, parents learn to play with their child in a way that establishes felt safety, increases social engagement, expands arousal regulation, and supports the development of positive self-esteem for both the child and the parent.

In each session we will utilize games that are easy to adjust to real life situations, not scripts that must be used in a certain way.

A woman with curly hair and glasses standing on a yellow stepping stone in a colorful playroom. She is smiling and raising her arms. The playroom has educational posters on the wall, a dollhouse, storage bins, and foam puzzle mats on the floor with blue, green, red, and yellow stepping stones.
A woman with curly red hair and glasses blowing bubbles in a room with educational posters on the wall and shelves filled with books and storage bins.

Theraplay® utilizes four core concepts to help children and their caregivers widen their windows of distress tolerance. These concepts include:

  1. Structure

  2. Nurture

  3. Challenge

  4. Engagement

Each concept helps create an appropriate balance between child and parent, where parents can lead with compassion.

As your Theraplay® Practitioner, I work with each family individually to create specialized treatment plans that help support your family’s needs. We will use each of the four concepts in every session, you as the parent will receive weekly feedback, and each week you’ll walk away with tools to practice throughout your week.

Theraplay® is highly structured, yet gives parents the tools and confidence they need to adjust to life’s curveballs.

A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a watch sits on the floor wearing a purple skirt with red flowers, smiling while reading a children's book. She is in a room with calming wall posters that include a rainbow breathing guide and grounding techniques, and a colorful foam puzzle mat on the floor. 
Frequently Asked Questions

  • While both approaches use play as part of the therapeutic process, they have different goals.

    Traditional child-centered play therapy allows children to express themselves through independent play while the therapist observes and supports emotional processing.

    Theraplay® is more structured and interactive. Parents or caregivers actively participate alongside their child, and sessions focus on strengthening the relationship through guided activities that build trust, regulation, confidence, and connection.

  • Yes! No. One of the benefits of Theraplay® is that children don't have to find the "right words" to benefit from therapy.

    Many children communicate best through play, movement, and connection. Theraplay® meets children where they are developmentally.

  • That's okay! Theraplay® isn't about putting children "on the spot" or expecting them to perform.

    Activities are introduced gradually, and sessions move at a pace that feels safe and supportive for your child. The goal is to create positive interactions—not pressure.

  • Because children grow within relationships.

    While your child's experiences and feelings matter deeply, lasting change often happens when we strengthen the connection between children and the important adults in their lives. By working together, we can create a foundation that supports your child's growth both inside and outside the therapy room.

  • Nope! However, you will see quicker results within your home if both parents are practicing these concepts and correlating games at home throughout the week.

  • No.

    Therapy isn't about judging your parenting or telling you you're doing it wrong. My role is to help you better understand your child's needs, strengthen your relationship, and provide practical tools that fit your family's values and goals.

  • You don't have to be.

    Many parents feel unsure or self-conscious at first, especially if playful connection wasn't modeled during their own childhood. I'll guide you every step of the way and help you discover simple, meaningful ways to connect that feel authentic for your family.